Letters: Fr Ray’s ministry

Sydney
6 January 2002

Pope John Paul II prays that peace will triumph over evil

Church helps secure anti-AIDS drug for South African mothers

Pilgrims return to the skies

Catholic students, schools among best in HSC results

Minister praises St Mel’s for anti-racism project

Pax Christi peace vigil extends

Brothers celebrate 200 years of religious life

Abortion doubles breast cancer risk

Vietnamese fast for freedom

Liturgy and ministry programs official

Editorial: Mary for our time

Letters: Fr Ray’s ministry

Conversation: Fr Desmond Daniels, Indian health worker

Reflections: Christ’s God - Mohammed’s God

In the footsteps of the ‘founding father’

Opinion: Star shows us the way to peace - in Christ’s way

A blend of Dreamtime and history

Obituary: Lawyer, tireless worker and papal knight - Lawrence Paul Trisley 1939-2001

Reform family law to raise status of marriage, says analyst

Mary, the perfect Christian

Inspirations: Social justice may lead kids to Mass

Letters: Fr Ray’s ministry

I would like to express thanks to Fr Ray Gatt for his wonderfully insightful weekly commentaries on the Sunday readings in The Catholic Weekly over the past few years.

They were a wonderful source of grace and insight. I have often meditated on the Sunday scripture readings with a greatly enhanced awareness of their message to the realities of everyday life.

Thanks again, Fr Ray! Your gifts of lucid exposition to clearly explain the meanings of scripture have been a truly effective ministry over the years.

Jim Lemcke
Denistone, NSW

ASYLUM SEEKERS

I wish to dissociate myself from Government policy on refugees and asylum seekers.

Surely Australia needs to show a little compassion and welcome these people instead of rejecting them and sending them to a small country ill-equipped to deal with these tragic circumstances.

We may never more criticise the human rights policies of other countries; our own has now been badly damaged by arrogance, selfishness and indifference to human suffering.

I am ashamed to be an Australian.

B Introna,
Erina, NSW

‘MOUNTAIN’ OF HOPE

I was fortunate enough to go to Cebu with Fr John Iacono (Enmore priest’s fight to beat ‘Smokey Mountain’ poverty, CW 7/10) on his recent visit and see first-hand the children from the dump site and also the Bethlehem Day Care Centre which Fr John has established.

I was overwhelmed with sadness seeing the way these people live, but yet still wanting the best for their children.

The day care centre provides their hope; and to see the children in their uniforms, big brown eyes looking at you with such intrigue, huge smiles on their faces, such happy children, under such poor conditions, parents with tears in their eyes as their children perform songs for us - it was truly amazing.

I know there are many people suffering in the world today and it’s impossible to be able to help everyone; and there are so many good people out there, helping in what ever way they can. They are to be commended.

I do thank you for bringing the plight of the children to your readers and their response has brought about the purchase of land for a new day care centre to be built, which will enable more children to get off the dump site.

We hope to return to the Philippines next May.

I want to return for many reasons, but the main one is to try to soak up as much faith as I possibly can that these people have to offer, to be spiritually renewed by these faith filled people.

Maria Natoli
Five Dock, NSW

‘PENNY’ CATECHISM

Leonie Green asks (Religious education in schools: questions without answers, CW 16/12): “Are there any practical solutions to these dilemmas of Catholic schools?”

Yes, there is: Re-introduce the old ‘penny’ Catechism, which gave an excellent summary of the faith. Some learned it by heart and, before screams of ‘rote learning’ are heard, let me say it is an excellent system as long as the subject matter is carefully explained and understood.

Times tables, formulae and vocabulary lists all require rote learning.

The Catechism quoted “Go therefore teach ye all nations, teaching them whatsoever I have commanded you”, also “love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you” and “as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without good works is dead”.

Not bad precepts for pupils, many of whom left after primary school, to take with them.

I was surprised by ‘now’ in the sentence that Catholic schools now include “children of other rites and other faith commitments”.

What’s new? The school I attended had Protestants, Greek Orthodox and Jews (even a rabbi’s daughter) among its pupils.

That was in the days when Catholic (and other schools) were bulging at the seams and it was reasonable to give Catholics preference.

As to whether RE “should focus on phenomenological and typological models which are more broadly and non-confessionally based” - well, I don’t know what all that means. But, for me, RE should teach the faith, teach the Catechism, bible history and apologetics and other old fashioned “ologies”.

D Atkinson
Chatswood, NSW

POINT IT ELSEWHERE

Leonie Green (Religious education in schools: questions without answers, CW 16/12) deftly exposes the complex nature of this subject by raising essential questions that sit at the centre of any rationale of RE in schools.

And by pointing out that faith is not a product and that schools are not the prime educators she dismantles a rather naïve criticism that maintains Catholic schools have failed in this area because of the paucity of young people who attend church.

Catholic schools are doing a magnificent job given the difficulties they face as outlined in the article. They will be honoured for being highly effective nurturing Christian communities where Catholic ideals and morality are incorporated into all aspects of the curriculum.

If there are empty spaces in pews, the finger of suspicion should be pointed elsewhere.

Des Connolly
Loftus, NSW